Splitting-machine.



J. GOULDBOURN.

SPLITTING MACHINE.

APPucATmNflLEn lun: a. i914.

1 ,208,773 Patented Deo. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

MMN Mm l. GOULDBOURN.

SPLITTING MACHINE.

APPLICAUON FILED JUNE 8,19l4.

Patented Dec. 19,1916.

a shears-'sneer 2 WFA/5555 J. GOULDBOURN.

SPLITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION r'lLE-D JUNE 8. 1914.

11,208,773. l Patented De.19,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 JOSEPH GrOULDBOURN,`

F LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY,V PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed .Tune 8, 1914.

To all wwm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH GoULDoUnN, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, `have invented certain Improvements in Splitting- Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the dra-wings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines designed for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes and is herein illustrated in connection with a machine for trimming from a sheet of leather-board or similar material a strip of desired width and for splitting the strip into two portions, or for performing either operation separately.

Machines have hereto-fore been used in which the stock is advanced by a pair of feed rolls to a. splitting knife the angle of which is caused to vary automatically in accordance with the distance' apart of said rolls, such a machine being shown, for eX- ample, in United States patent to Benjamin No. 1,048,278. As in the machine of the patent referred to it has been customary to adjust one roll longitudinally of the other in order to provide for operating properly upon strips of different widths. It is desirable, however, that this relative longitudinal adjustment of the feed rolls be accompanied by an adjustment of the splitting knife.

One feature of the present invention comprises in a machine of the class described a plurality of feed members capable of relative longitudinal adjustment, an adjustable knife, andmeans for adjusting said knife in accordance with the relative longitudinal adjustment of said feed members. Thus, for example, when in the illustrative machine the upper roll is adjusted longitudinally to provide for operating upon a narrower strip than was previously operated upon the inclination of the knife will be increased.

Another feature of the invention comprises automatic mechanism for varying the pressure exerted by the feed rolls upon the stock in accordance with the longitudinal adjustment of one of the feed rolls, it being obvious that the wider the stock the more pressure is desirable.

These and .other features of the invention Specification of Letters Patent.

SPLITTING-IvIACI-IINE.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916. Serial No. 843,759. A

including certain details of construction and combinations of parts will be described in connection with an illustrative machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

eferring now to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a. front view of a machine in which the present invention is embodied, certain parts being shown in section and other parts omitted for the better showing of the necessary parts; Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine; Fig. 3 is a. plan of a portion of the machine partly in section; Fig. L isa section showing in. detail the means employed for holding the upper feed roll in place; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 showing in detail an adjustable connection hereinafter explained.

The machine illustrated in the drawings comprises a feed roll 1 arranged to turn in pivoted bearings presently to be described which may conveniently be made so as to be capable of adjustment, for example by a screw 3, to vary the height of the roll. Above this feed roll, which is adapted to engage the underside of the work, is another and cooperating feed roll 5 which engages tlie upper surface of the work. The material to be slit is fed along a platform 7 to the rolls, the said platform conveniently being mounted on the machine frame 9 the inner edge of the material being in contact with an edge gage 81.

The upper feed roll 5 is carried in a swinging frame 11 pivoted at 13 on the main frame 9 so that `it can have it-s position in relation to the lower feed roll 1 initially adjusted and, as will afterward appear, move up and down according to the varying thickness of the work being dealt with. The initial adjustment of the upper roll is obtained by a screw 15 threaded in a. boss 17 in the swinging frame 11, the end of the screw 15 bearing on a projection 19 from the main frame 9. This adjustment of the upper feed roll 5, as well as the adjustments of the lower feed roll 1, enables the range of work for which the machine is adapted to deal to be varied within wide limits. Further, the initial adjustment of the rolls 1 and 5 provides means by which the strip may be severed along a line that is otherwise disposed than as the diagonal joining the corners of the strip whereby the latter can be cut with edges not terminating in sharp angles.

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The feed rolls 1, 5 are driven by a train of 'gearing 21, 23, 25, 27 from a large gear 31 which in turn may be rotated by any suitable mechanism, said gear being fast to the shaft 29. The gear wheels 23, 27 which mesh respectively with the gear wheels 9.1, 25 are mounted on shafts 13, 29 about which the feed rolls move in their adjustment tof ward and from one another so that they may thus be adjusted without interrupting the continuity of their driving connections. The

swinging frame 11 of the upper roll turns about the shaft 13 on which the gear wheel Q7 is mounted while the bearing of the lower roll is movable about the shaft Z9 which carries the gear wheel 23.

On the side of the feed rolls 1, 5 opposite to the side where the work is inserted hetween them is a splitting knife 33,. the cutting edge 35 of which is of a length substantially equal to the width of the feed rolls. lThe knife 33 is secured to a frame 37 by a hooked bolt 39, the bolt 39 being provided with two hooks 1-1, 4:3 so that, by turning the bolt on its axis and using one or the other of the hooks, knives of different widths may be used. The knife frame 37 has a cylindrical projection 45 which has a groove i7 to receive one edge of the knife 33. The cylindrical projection Ll5 is re -ceived in a bore formed in a projecting portion 49 of the machine frame 9, the axis of the projection l5 vbeing in line with the uppermost point of the outer edge of the periphery of the lower feed roll 1. The projection 45 is kept from longitudinal movement in the bore by the provision of a groove 51 in the projection that receives a screw or pin 53 passing through the wall of the bore. AA screw 55 is also preferably provided to bear upon the end of the projection, and a roll 57 on theknife frame 37 bears against a lface 59 on a projection on the machine frame so that the screw and the face receive the thrust of the work in the slitting` operation.

The knife mounted as above described can be swung, by means hereinafter explained, so as to extend diagonally from the outer edge of the lower feed roll 1 to the inner edge ofthe upper feed roll 5 irrespective of the distance apart of the rolls or, as will appear later, of their relative longitudinal positions.

. As a result of mechanism to be described the knife swinging as above set forth will automatically follow the upper feed'roll 5 in its movement as it rises and falls to ac commodate itself to the varying thicknesses of material and, if desired, slit continuously the strip of leather or the like diagonally from corner to corner notwithstanding the varying thickness of the same as it is passed between the rolls.

When it is desired to cut diagonally beyond the center' about which the knife moves, and when the knife is tilted this edge will project below the top edge of the lower roll and will therefore out through the lower face of the material. With such an adjustment, the trimming knife 121 is, of course, not used.

, As has been hereinbefore suggested means are provided for adjusting the relative longitudinal position of the feed rolls 1 and 5, and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention this is accomplished by providing means for adjusting the upper feed roll 5 along its axis. By this adjustment the inner edge of the upper feed roll 5 may be brought into coincidence with the inner edge of the materi al to be skived so that proper upward movement of the inner end of the knife may not be interfered with.

The mea-ns for adjusting the upper roll 5 longitudinally comprise a spindle or shaft 63 mounted in bearings in the swinging frame 11. The spindle is provided with a hand wheel 65 at its upper extremity, and a pinion 67 is formed on said spindle at its lower end. The pinion 67 meshes with a rack 69 formed onV a sleeve 71 which embraces the shaft 73 of the upper roll 5, and against the end of said sleeve the upper roll 5 is kept in contact by the engagement with a circumferential groove 75 in the upper roll 5 of a spring plunger 77 mounted in an extension 79 of said sleeve. By operating the hand wheel 65 to the desired extent thel clined or tilted to suit the position to whichv the roll 5 has been brought. The means for tilting the knife 33 in accordance with either the vertical or longitudinal movement or both of these movements of the upper feed -roll 5 comprise a lever 83 which for convenience will hereinafter be termed the knife-actuating lever. This lever is pivoted at to a portion of the machine frame which extends outwardly of the machine and over the two feed rolls 1, 5, the position of the pivot 85 of the lever 83 being above and exactly in line with the axis of inclination of the knife 33. VThe knifeactuating lever 83 extends inwardly and is provided with a longitudinal slot or groove 87 with which engages `a stud or pivot pin of the roll S9 secured to the extension 79 of the sleeve 71 hereinbefore mentioned. The eXtreme inner end of the knifewactuating lever 83 is coupled to the inner end of the knife frame 37 by a link 91 preferably of suoli length that the knife 33 and knife-actuating lever 83 will constitute a parallel motion device. A screw bolt 93 may be provided to determine theposition of the knife when the rolls are in contact. A spring 95 connects an arm of the actuating lever 83 with the machine frame to balance the weight of said lever and render its 4movements easy.

In the machine constructed as hereinbefore set forth the upper roll 5 when lifted by the work through an increased thickness thereof will also lift the knife-actuating lever 83 through the engagement of the stud 89 on the upwardly extending part of the extension 79 with the longitudinal slot or groove 87 in the said lever and, through the link 91, will move the knife 33 to the `necessary angle to cut the material diagonally from corner to corner. This condition will be maintained however the material being passed through the rolls varies in thickness. Obviously, the provision of the stud 89 on the extension 79 engaging the slot 87 in the knife-actuatinglever 83 permits the upper roll 5 to be adjusted longitudinally as hereinhefore described without breaking the connection between the knife-actuating lever 83 and the knife 33 and the parts are so proportioned that whatever the longitudinal position of the upper feed roll 5 may be or to whatever height it is raised by the passing material the knife 33 will be caused to assume an angular position that will sever the material diagonally from corner to corner.

As shown particularly in Fig. 5, the stud 89 is made adjustable in the extension 79 so that the angular relationship of the knifeactuating lever 83 and the upper roll 5 may be initially altered whereby the knife may be caused to out the material along a line that need not correspond with the actual lift 5V but may bear some predetermined relationship thereto. The adjustment is preferably effected as shown by mounting the stud 89 eccentrically on a shaft 97 which may be turned in a bore in the extension 79 and then secured by a bolt 99. The stud 89 may as shown be of smaller diameter than the width of the slot 87 and mayV carry a block 101. i

According to another feature of the invention the machine is provided with means by which the pressure of the feed rolls upon the material is automatically varied according to the width ofi-he material under treatment. In the illustrative machine the variation of the pressure is effected by means that operate on the upper feed roll 5, and the construction and arrangement of parts is such that an increased pressure of the upper Vroll is obtained when the rolls are adjusted for wider material, and a decreased pressure when the rolls are. adjusted to operate on narrower widths. 1n carrying this portion of the invention into effect the swinging frame has rearward extensions in which is mounted a rockshaft 105 to one end of which is secured a lever 103, while to the other end is secured an arm 107 which engages a compression spring 109 so that when the lever 103 and swinging frame 11 are moved by the work the upper feed roll will be pressed against the work by the action of the spring. Preferably the spring surrounds a rod 111 which is hinged to the end of the arm 107 and passes through a perforated lug 113 projecting from the machine frame, the spring bearing between the lug and the end of the arm 107. Y

By altering the angular' disposition of the adjusting lever 103 with respect to the swinging frame 1.1 the power of the spring will be altered and the pressure of the feed roll 5 on the work changed. To effect this alteration of the tension of the spring in cooperation with the movement by which the upper roll is adjusted longitudinally to suit different widths of material the following means are preferably employed. The adjusting lever 103 is provided with a toothed segment 115 which is engaged by a worm 117 secured to the spindle or stud G3 which through the pinion 67 and the rack 69 moves the sleeve 71 and upper feed roll 5 longitudinally. Y

When the hand wheel 65 is turned to move the upper feed roll 5 to provide for narrow material the worm 117 will turn the adjusting lever 103 through the segment 115 to lessen the tension of the spring 109 and conversely the worm 117 will turn the adjusting lever 103 t0 increase the tension when the hand wheel 65 is turned in the opposite direction, that is when moving the upper feed roll 5 to accommodate wider material. As the swinging frame 11 is turned about its pivot 13 either in the initial positioning or when thicker work is passing between the rolls l and 5, there would be a tendency to remove the pivot pin 89 on the upwardly eX- tending part 79 from the groove or slot 87 in the knife-actuatinglever 83. To prevent this from taking place the extension 79 of the sleeve 71 is provided with means for holding it from angular movement when the swinging frame 11 is turned on its pivot 13 so as to keep the pivot pin 89 in the slot or groove 87. For this purpose the upward extension 79 has a continuation 179 which is received between cheeks 119 projecting downwardly from the frame. The continuation 17 9 is free to slide in the recess formed between the cheeks, and the pivot pin will thereby be maintained in the slot 87. The recess between the cheeks 119 is of a depth such as to leave a clearance between the top of the continuation 179 and the bottom of the rece-ss sufficient to provide for the maximum lift of the knife-actuating lever 83 when the thickest piece of leather is being passed between the rolls 1 and 5. The ma.- c'hine is also preferably provided with a severing or trimming knife 121 which may be usedwhen desired to trim off the outer edge of the strip of material as the latter is passed between the rolls 1 and 5 or to enable a strip to be eut from sheet material. Preferably the knife 121 is secured to the frame in an adjustable manner so that its position can be varied, as for` example as shown by being provided with a clamp 123 which secures it in a bracket 125. The bracket has a cylindrical projection 121 (see Fig. 1) secured in a hole in the machine frame by means of a screw 129. A key 131 prevents the bracket from being turned about the aXis of the projection 127 by the pressure of the material against the knife. The point of the knife projects upward to bear either against the end of the upper roll 5 or when the latter has been moved longitudinally for narrower material to bear on the side of one of a series of annular grooves which may be provided in the roll 5. The projecting end of the knife is received in an annular groove in the lower feed roll 1. l

To enable the machine to be used in a manner different from that already described, for example, to split material to an even thickness or to skive to a definite angle independent of the thickness of the'work, the operative connections between the feed rolls and the knife may be disconnected and means be provided to hold the knife in one position when so disconnected. Preferably as shown in Fig. 1 these means consist of a screw abutment 133 on the frame against which the end of the link 91 bears when the latter' has been-disconnected from the actuating lever 83. The abutment 133 will then hold the knife stationary notwithstanding any alteration of the position of the roll 5.

Having vthus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States: l

1. A machine of the. class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed members capable of relative longitudinal adjustment, an adjustable knife, and means connected with one of said feed members for causing adjustment of said knife in accordance with the relative longitudinal adjustment of said feed members.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed members capable of relative longitudinal adjustment, an angularly adjustable knife, and means connected with one of said feed members for causing adjustment of said knife in accordance with the relative longitudinal adjustment of said feed members.

3. A. machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls 1 capable of relative longitudinal adjustment, an adjustable knife, and means connected with one of said rolls for causing adjustment of said knife in accordance with the relative longitudinal adjustment of said feed rolls.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls capable of relative longitudinal adjustment, an angular-ly adjustable knife, and means connected with one of said rolls for causing adjustment of said knife in accordance with the relative longitudinal adjustment of said feed rolls. Y

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a. plurality of feed rolls one of which is longitudinally adjustable, an adjustable knife arranged to split a piece of stock advanced by said rolls and connectingl means between said longitudinally adjustable roll and said knife whereby adjustment of said roll adjusts said knife.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls one of which is longitudinally adjustable, an angularly adjustable knife arranged to split a. piece of stock advanced by said rolls, and connecting means between said longitudinally adjustable roll and said knife whereby fadjustment of said roll adjusts said kni e. r 7 Amachine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of separable feed rolls for advancing a piece of stock, one of said rolls being adjustable longitudinally of its aXis, a knife for acting upon stock so fed, a parallel motion device Vfor varying the inclination of said knife and a` member connected with said longitudinally adjustable roll for operating said parallel .motion device in accordance with the relative longitudinaladjustment of said rolls.

S. A machine of the' class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls oneV of which is longitudinally adjustable, an angularly adjustable knife arranged to split a piece of stock advanced by said rolls, a knife actuating lever, a pivot for said lever the axis of which is located in the same plane as that about which the knife is adjustable, and means movable with said adjustable roll for adjusting said lever and therewith said knife.

9. A machine of the class described hav-V ing, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls one of which is longitudinally adjustable, an angular-ly adjustable knife arranged to split a piece of stock advanced by said rolls, a knife actuating lever, a pivot for said lever the axis of which is located in the same plane as that about which the knife is adjustable, connecting means between said leferent widths, an adjustable knife to which said work is fed, and means connecting said rolls and knife for adjusting said knife in accordance with the recession and approach of the rolls or their relative longitudinal adjustment. 11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls capable of approach and separation according to the thickness of the work, and of relative adjustment longitudinally of one another to provide for pieces of work of different widths, an adjustable knife to which said Work is fed, and means connecting said rolls and knife for adjusting said knife in accordance both with the recession and approach of the rolls and their relative longitudinal adjustment.

l2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls capable of approach and separation according to the thickness of the work, and of relative adjustment longitudinally of one another to provide for pieces of work of different widths, an angularly adjustable knife to which said workis fed, and means connecting said rolls and knife for adjusting said knife in accordance with the recession and approach of the rolls or their relative longitudinal adjustment.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of separable feed rolls for advancing` a piece of stock, an angularly adjustable knife for acting upon the stock, connecting means between one of said rolls and said knife whereby movement of said roll transverse to its axis serves automatically to move said knife angularly, said connecting means being capable of dis- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the connection, and means for holding the disconnected knife stationary.

.14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of members for gripping and feeding a piece of stock, mechanism for producing relative longitudinal adjustment of said members, a spring tending to urge said members toward each other, and means operated by said mechanism for varying the tension of said spring.

15. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls for gripping and feeding a piece of stock, mechanism for producing relative longitudinal adjustment of said members, a spring tending to urge said members toward each other, and means operated by said mechanism for varying the tension of said spring.

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls for gripping and feeding a piece of stock, mechanism for producing relative longitudinal adjustment of said members, a spring tending to urge said members toward each other, and means operated by said mechanism for increasing the tension of said spring when the adjustment takes place in one direction and for decreasing the tension when the adjustment takes place in the other direction.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a plurality of feed rolls for gripping and advancing a piece of stock, a spring tending to urge said rolls toward each other, an angularly adjustable knife for acting upon stock so fed, mechanism for producing relative longitudinal adjustment of said rolls, and means operated by said mechanism for varying the tension of said spring and the angular position of said knife.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH GOULDBOURIN. Vitnesses:

FREDERICK WILLIAM WORTH, CEGIL HERBERT CRoss.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

